York House Introduces the Mobile Museum

The York House Museum and Archives has a new mobile display that can travel to classrooms and give students a glimpse into the early years of York House School. The exhibit, titled “York House Stories: 1932-1946,” gives students a glimpse into the lives of York House students who lived through the Depression, WWII, and its aftermath. Students can explore the rich history of the school through a variety of interactive experiences: they listen to music of the time on a replica WWII-era radio, watch early short films of 1930s Vancouver, play with yo-yos (a favourite toy of past Yorkies), practice their penmanship with a fountain pen, read first-hand accounts of experiences during the war, examine old photographs, and much more. So far, the exhibit has visited a Grade 7 and a Grade 10 classroom and future visits are on the horizon.

Gr. 2s and 3s Visit the Museum

Three classes of enthusiastic junior students recently visited the Alumnae Museum & Archives to learn about YHS.

Gr. 3s visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives
Gr. 3s visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives

In February, Ms. Ling brought in her Gr. 3 Science classes to learn about changes to YHS buildings over the years. The girls, who were studying physical structures, considered the forms and functions of earlier YHS buildings, while Ms. Ling followed up the discussion in her classroom with a slideshow of archival photos depicting the 1993 construction of the Junior School.

Gr. 2s Visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives
Gr. 2s Visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives

When Ms. Shore’s Grade 2s visited in March, they learned about some of the stories contained in the museum, such as previous YHS uniforms (ties! berets! bloomers! pumpkin suits!), the big old house with the stained glass windows that used to be the Junior School, what it was like being a YHS boarding student, and the years when boys attended the Junior School.

Teachers are always invited to bring their classes to the Museum & Archives for learning opportunities that link curriculum with YHS history in creative ways. Please contact Museum Curator and Archivist Susannah Smith for details.